684 
CI2.E5 


THE  GIFT  OF 

FLORENCE  V.  V.  DICKEY 

TO  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


THE  DONALD  R.  DICKEY 

LIBRARY 
OF  VERTEBRATE  ZOOLOGY 


Japuig 


W.OtTo 


Ut^xVL^U^. 

waTe      J?*7' 


OKN ITHOLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS 
IX  SAX  DIEGO  COUNTY. 


'  TO   KMKRSON. 


5672*8 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  419 

ORNITHOLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS  IN  SAN  DIEGO  COUNTY. 
BY  W.    OTTO   EMERSON. 

The  months  of  January,  February  and  March,  1884,  found 
me  storm-bound  on  the  Volcano  Mountains,  about  seventy- 
five  miles  northeast  of  San  Diego.  The  intervals  between 
January  15-20  and  between  April  6-2S  were  spent  in  Poway 
Valley,  twenty-two  miles  north  of  San  Diego. 

The  Volcano  Mountains  seem  to  be  a  spur  from  the  main 
range,  rising  about  5,000  feet  above  sea  level.  Eastward 
as  far  as  the  eye  can  see  lies  the  so-called  desert.  West- 
ward among  the  valleys  and  tablelands  (mesas)  the  country 
is  sparsely  settled.  The  western  side  of  the  range  is  well 
timbered  with  several  species  of  oaks,  while  towards  the 
north,  dark,  heavy  belts  of  timber  are  seen. 

Poway  Valley  is  surrounded  by  high  rolling  hills;  these 
in  many  places  are  bare  and  rocky;  again,  covered  with 
patches  of  cacti.  Black  and  white  sage  is  the  principal  veg- 
etation covering  the  sides  of  the  many  ravines.  Very  few 
trees  of  any  kind  are  seen;  these  comprise  oaks,  elders,  oc- 
casional sycamores  and  clumps  of  willows.  The  elders  grow 
very  large,  the  berries  furnishing  food  for  Kobins,  Mocking- 
birds, Bluebirds.  House  Finches,  and  others.  The  sycamores 
are  the  habitation  of  several  species  of  rapacious  birds. 
Numerous  kinds  of  cacti  are  found,  the  one  known  as  cholla 
being  used  by  many  birds  to  build  their  nests  in. 

In  the  present  paper  it  is  intended  to  show  the  relative 
abundance  of  the  various  species  found  on  the  Volcano 
Mountains  in  winter;  also  those  of  Poway  Valley  in  winter, 
and  of  the  latter  place  after  the  spring  migrants  had  begun 
to  arrive.  The  lists  are  somewhat  incomplete,  owing  to  my 
ill  health  preventing  observations  during  the  severest 
weather.  The  winter  was  an  unusually  severe  one  on  the 

29— BULL.  CAL.  ACAD.  Sci.    II.    7.  Issued  June  3.  1887. 


420  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

mountains,  snow  often  covering  the  ground  to  the  depth  of 
two  feet.  Nine  inches  fell  during  one  night. 

I  am  under  obligations  to  Dr.  J.  G.  Cooper  and  Mr.  Kob- 
ert  Ridgway  for  identifying  several  of  the  species  included 
in  these  lists.  Specimens  were  taken  of  all  excepting  Golden 
Eagle,  Turkey  Buzzard,  Crow,  and  Sandhill  Crane. 

Arriving  on  the  mountains  in  January,  bird  life  was  met 
with  in  profusion,  scattered  among  the  trees  and  bushes,  no 
storms  having  yet  occurred  to  drive  them  down  to  the  val- 
leys or  confine  them  to  sheltered  flats  along  the  creeks. 
After  the  first  hard  rain  storm  they  commenced  moving 
lower  down,  and  the  first  fall  of  snow,  towards  the  latter 
part  of  January,  sent  them  hurrying  to  the  warmer  valleys. 

The  species  taken  or  seen  on  the  mountains  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  Grus  mexicana. 

SANDHILL  CRANE. — A  large  flock  was  seen  flying  north- 
ward March  16th,  and  another  on  March  20th. 

2.  Oreortyx  pictus  plumiferus. 

PLUMED  PARTRIDGE. — A  bevy  of  forty  or  more  was  seen  in 
January.  They  were  not  as  common  as  the  Valley  Par- 
tridge. 

3.  Callipepla  californica  vallicola. 

VALLEY  PARTRIDGE. — Abundant.  This  species  withstands 
the  cold  and  snow  far  better  than  its  larger  relative.  The 
Plumed  Partridge  became  scarce  after  the  first  heavy  fall  of 
snow,  having  gone  to  a  lower  altitude  to  winter. 

4.  Cathartes  aura. 

TURKEY  VULTURE. — Only  noticed  on  one  occasion,  when 
eight  or  nine  were  seen  circling  above  the  main  ridge  (Feb- 
ruary 22d). 

5.  Accipiter  velox, 

SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK.— One  seen  February  22d. 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  421 

6.  Accipiter  cooperi. 

COOPER'S  HAWK. — Tolerably  common. 

7.  Buteo  borealis  calurus. 

WESTERN  RED-TAIL. — Common.  Eggs  were  brought  to 
me  as  early  as  February  20th. 

8.  Archibuteo  ferrugineus. 

FERRUGINEUS  ROUGH-LEG. — A  male  was  shot  February 
25th,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  by  my  friend  Mr.  Fred. 
Paine. 

9.  Aquila  chryssetus. 

GOLDEN  EAGLE.— Seen  flying  on  several  occasions.  No 
doubt  breeds  in  this  vicinity. 

10.  Falco  sparverius. 

AMERICAN  SPARROW  HAWK. — One  bird  was  seen  March  1st. 

11.  Bubo  virgihianus  subarcticus. 

WESTERN  HORNED  OWL. — Sometimes  heard  calling  at  dusk 
from  some  oaks  near  the  house. 

12.  Dryobates  villosus  harrisii. 

HARRIS'S  WOODPECKER. — One  male  taken. 

13.  Melanerpes  formicivorus  bairdi. 

CALIFORNIAN  WOODPECKER.  —Common.  In  stormy  weather 
remaining  concealed  in  the  oaks,  but  on  sunny  days  coming 
about,  with  their  glad  ekup,  ekup,  ekup. 

14.  Colaptes  cafer. 

RED-SHAFTED  FLICKER. — Rare  on  the  mountains. 

15.  Trochilus  anna. 

ANNA'S  HUMMINGBIRD.— A  male  flew  past  the  house  the 
morning  of  March  llth,  hurrying  to  leave  a  place  where 
the  snow  lay  over  everything. 

16.  Otocoris  alpestris  rubea. 

RUDDY  HORNED  LARK. — Common  on  open  flats. 


422  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

nun  ii 

vlT,    Cyanocitta  stelleri  frontalis. 

BLUE-FRONTED  JAY. — Common  at  all  times. 

18.  Aphelocoma  californica, 

CALIFORNIA  JAY. — Common.  More  social  than  the  Blue- 
fronted  Jay,  coming  about  the  corrals  and  sheds  for  scat- 
tered corn,  and  often  going  to  the  feed  boxes  to  help  them- 
selves. Specimens  which  were  taken  differ  considerably 
from  the  same  species  found  at  Hay  wards,  Cal.,  being 
smaller  and  somewhat  different  in  color. 

19.  Corvus  americanus. 

AMERICAN  CROW. — Two  or  three  pairs  were  seen  about  the 
ranch  during  the  winter.  A  large  colony  had  nesting  sites 
in  some  willows  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  in  the  spring. 

20.  Sturnella  magna  neglecta. 

WESTERN  MEADOWLARK. — Rarely  seen  on  the  mountains. 

21.  Scolecophagus  cyanocephalus. 

BREWER'S  BLACKBIRD.  —  Three  males  came  around  the 
house  during  a  snow  storm  on  February  llth;  a  female  was 
seen  on  March  20th. 

22.  Carpodacus  frontalis  rhodocolpus. 

CRIMSON  HOUSE  FINCH. — Not  common.  Heard  one  sing- 
ing on  February  22d. 

23.  Spinus  lawrencei. 

LAWRENCE'S  GOLDFINCH. — A  small  flock  was  seen  twice  in 
January. 

24.  Ammodramus  sandwichensis  alaudinus. 

WESTERN  SAVANNA  SPARROW.  —  A  single  specimen  was 
taken  Marcli  9th.  . 

25.  Chondestes  grammacus  strigatus. 

WESTERN  LARK  SPARROW. — Common  in  flocks  about  open 
ground. 

26.  Zonotrichia  gambeli. 
GAMBEL'S  SPARROW. — Common. 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO   COUNTY.  423 

27.  Zonotrichia  coronata. 

GOLDEN  CROWNED  SPARROW. — Tolerably  common.  Associ- 
ated with  Gambol's  Sparrow. 

28.  Junco  hyemalis  oregonus. 
OREGON  JUNCO. — Common. 

29.  Melospiza  fasciata  heermanni. 
HEERMANN'S  SONG  SPARROW. — Rare. 

30.  Melospiza  lincolni. 

LINCOLN'S  SPARROW. — The  only  individual  seen  was  taken 
January  25th. 

31.  Passerella  iliaca  unalasohcensis. 

TOWNSEND'S  SPARROW. — Common.  A  specimen  which  Mr. 
Ridgway  has  identified  approaches  closely  to  the  variety 
megar/t  f/ nchii  in  size  of  bill  and  coloration. 

32.  Pipilo  maculatus  megalonyx. 

SPURRED  TOWHEE. — Common.  Could  be  heard  singing 
on  any  clear  morning  from  the  top  of  low  bushes. 

33.  Pipilo  fuscus  crissalis. 
JCALIFOHNIAN  TOWHEE. — Common. 

34.  Tachycineta  thalassina. 

VIOLET-GREEN  SWALLOW. — First  seen  March  17th,  early  in 
the  morning,  but  finding  five  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground 
they  circled  about  for  three  hours  and  then  disappeared, 
returning  April  1st,  when  I  noticed  them  resting  on  bare 
oak  twigs. 

35.  Dendroica  auduboni. 

AUDUBON'S  WARBLER. — Was  seen  February  22d,  towards 
the  foot  of  the  mountains. 

36.  Harporhynchus  redivivus. 

CALIFORNIAN  THRASHER. — Heard  singing  on  March  9th. 


424  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

37.  Troglodytes  sedon  parkmanii. 

PARKMAN'S  WREN. — One  specimen  was  taken  January  24th , 
and  another  seen  on  the  28th. 

38.  Sitta  carolinensis  'aculeata. 

SLENDER-BILLED  NUTHATCH.  —  Seen  and  heard  singing 
every  day.  Appeared  to  be  looking  for  nesting  sites  March 
1st. 

39.  Parus  inornatus. 

PLAIN  TITMOUSE. — Common.  The  males  were  singing  the 
latter  part  of  March. 

40.  Parus  gambeli. 

MOUNTAIN  CHICKADEE. — Common.  Noticed  them  singing 
March  1st. 

41.  Psaltriparus  minimus  californicus. 

CALIFORNIAN  BUSH-TIT. — Seen  February  24th,  during  a 
heavy  snow  storm,  with  a  flock  of  the  Mountain  Chickadee. 

42.  Regulus  calendula. 

RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. — Two  birds  were  seen  the  last  of 
March. 

43.  Myadestes  townsendii. 

TOWNSEND'S  SOLITAIRE. — Only  two  or  three  were  seen. 

44.  Turdus  aonalaschkae. 

DWARF  HERMIT  THRUSH. — Bare.  None  were  seen  after 
February  22d. 

45.  Merula  migratoria  propinqua. 

WESTERN  ROBIN. — Common  wherever  the  ground  was  bare 
and  soft. 

46.  Sialia  mexicana. 

WESTERN  BLUEBIRD. — Common.     Mated  by  March  1st. 

I  left  the  Volcano  Mountains  on  April  2d,  and  went  into 
camp  the  same  day  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  on  my  re- 
turn to  Powav  Valley.  About  dusk  two  Russet-backed 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  425 

Thrashes  were  seen.  On  entering  the  Santa  Isabel  Valley 
next  day,  the  Arkansas  Kingbird  was  found  in  pairs  perched 
upon  dry  weed-stalks.  Crimson  House  Finch,  Western 
Lark  Sparrow,  Western  Meadowlark  and  Brewer's  Black- 
bird, were  common  through  the  green  fields,  while  the  air 
above  was  merry  with  the  twitter  of  many  Clitf  Swallows. 
Lower  in  the  valley  the  following  were  seen:  American 
Sparrow  Hawk,  Western  Bed-Tail,  Bullock's  Oriole,  Purple 
Martin,  Andubon's  and  Pileolated  Warblers.  On  the  plains 
I  noticed  Western  Savanna  Sparrow,  Western  Lark  Sparrow, 
Crimson  House  Finch,  Yellow-headed  and  Bicolored  Black- 
birds, flocks  of  Mountain  Plover  and  Ruddy  Horned  Lark. 
A  few  pairs  of  Ash-throated  Flycatchers,  a  species  which  ar- 
rives late,  showed  that  the  spring  migration  to  San  Diego 
county  was  far  advanced.  Cliff  Swallows  had  commenced 
building  under  the  eaves  of  an  adobe  house,  and  about  a 
moist  spot  of  ground  several  Killdeers  were  feeding.  The 
lonesome  notes  of  the  Poor-will  could  be  heard  almost  con- 
tinually throughout  the  night. 

In  the  following  list  of  the  birds  of  Poway  Valley,  seen  or 
taken  by  me  in  April,  I  have  included  in  their  order  those 
noticed  in  January.  Such  \viuter  birds  are  indicated  by  *. 

1.    JEgialitis  vocifera. 

KLLLDEER. — Tolerably  common.     Breeds. 

*2.    Callipepla  californica. 
CALIFORNIA  PARTRIDGE. — Very  plentiful  among  the  cacti. 

*3.    Zenaidura  macroura. 
MOURNING  DOVE. — Tolerably  common. 

4.    Pseudogryphos  californianus. 

CALIFORNIA  VULTURE. — I  hardly  expected  to  have  the  good 
fortune  to  see  this  rare  bird,  but  one  day  I  heard  a  sound, 
as  of  wind  coming  through  the  oaks,  and  saw  a  large  shadow 
passing  over  the  ground.  Soon  this  bird  of  immense  wings 


426  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

went  sailing  by  towards  the  mountains.  I  had  time  to  note 
the  bare,  bright  colored  head,  outstretched  from  the  body, 
and  then  he  was  gone.  This  rare  species  is  now  confined 
to  the  mountains  back  from  the  coast.  I  have  been  told  by 
Mr.  Henry  Chapman  (now  deceased)  that  they  were  once 
common  in  San  Joaquin  and  Sacramento  Valleys. 

5.    Accipiter  velox. 

SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. — One  specimen  was  taken  in  Janu- 
ary.    Not  afterwards  seen. 

*6.    Buteo  borealis  calurus. 
WESTERN  BED-TAIL. — Common  in  the  vicinity  of  trees. 

7.  Falco  sparverius. 

AMERICAN  SPARROW  HAWK. — Common. 

8.  Strix  pratincola. 

AMERICAN  BARN  OWL. — A  few  seen  at  dusk  among  oaks. 

9.  Bubo  virginianus  subarcticus. 
WESTERN  HORNED  OWL. — Common. 

10.    Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogaea. 

BURROWING    OWL.  —  Common.     Fresh    eggs    were   taken 
April  23d. 

11.    Dryobates  pubescens  gairdnerii. 
GAIRDNER'S  WOODPECKER. — Common  among  oak  trees. 

*12.    Colaptes  cafer. 
RED-SHAFTED  FLICKER. — Common. 

13.  Phalaenoptilus  nuttalli. 
POOR-WILL. — Tolerably  common. 

14.  Chordeiles  virginianus  henry i. 
WESTERN  NIGHTHAWK. — Common. 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  427 

15.  Trochilus  alexandri. 

BLAOK-CHIXNED  HUMMINGBIRD. — Common.  More  so  than 
any  other  of  this  genus.  Fresh  eggs  were  taken,  and  half- 
fledged  young  found  April  23d. 

16.  Trochilus  anna. 

ANNA'S  HUMMINGBIRD. — Rare.     One  male  seen. 

17.  Trochilus  rufus. 

RUFOUS  HUMMINGBIRD.— Rare. 

18.  Tyrannus  verticalis. 

ARKANSAS  KINGBIRD. — Common.  Nests  were  ready  to  re- 
ceive eggs  by  the  last  of  April. 

*19.    Tyrannus  vociferans. 

CASSINS  KINGBIRD. — Common.  Nests  about  the  same  time 
as  the  Arkansas  Kingbird,  but  the  eggs  are  not  distinguish- 
able from  those  of  that  species. 

20.    Myiarchus  cinerascens. 
ASH-THROATED  FLYCATCHER. — One  pair  seen. 

*21.    Sayornis  nigricans. 
BLACK  PHOEBE. — Common.     Eggs  taken  April  27th. 

22.    Empidonax  difficilis. 

BAIRD'S  FLYCATCHER. — Was  noticed  only  once,  on  April 
8th. 

"23.    Otocoris  alpestris  rubea. 

RUDDY  HORNED  LARK. — Tolerably  common.  -Incubated 
eggs  were  found  April  20th. 

24.    Aphelocoma  californica. 
CALIFORNL\  JAY. — Common. 


428  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

25.  Xanthocephalus  xauthocephalus. 

YELLOW-HEADED  BLACKBIRD. — Seen  in  small  flocks.  The 
male  has  an  odd  way  of  throwing  his  head  to  one  side  when 
singing. 

26.  Agelaius  gubernator. 
BICOLORED  BLACKBIRD. — Common. 

27.  Agelaius  tricolor. 

TRICOLORED  BLACKBIRD. — Tolerably  common. 

28.    Sturnella  magna  neglecta. 
WESTERN  MEADOWLARK. — Tolerably  common. 

29.  Icterus  cucullatus  nelsoni, 

ARIZONA  HOODED  ORIOLE. — Common.  Nests  in  gum  trees 
were  completed  by  the  last  of  April.  From  the  appearance 
of  specimens  taken  I  should  judge  that  it  required  from  two 
to  three  years  for  the  males  to  attain  full  plumage. 

30.  Icterus  bullocki. 

BULLOCK'S  ORIOLE. — Common.  Not  found  near  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  nesting  places  of  the  Hooded  Oriole. 

31.  Scolecophagus  cyanocephalus. 

BREWER'S  BLACKBIRD. — Very  common.  Nests  in  pepper 
trees.  One  nest  taken  April  17th  contained  seven  eggs. 

*32.    Carpodacus  frontalis  rhodocolpus. 

CRIMSON  HOUSE  FINCH. — Nest  and  fresh  eggs  taken  April 
18th. 

"33.    Spinus  psaltria. 

ARKANSAS  GOLDFINCH. — Tolerably  common.  Fed  on  young 
oak  buds. 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  429 

34.    Spinus  lawrencei. 

LAWRENCE'S  GOLDFINCH. — Common.     Found  large  joung 
and  fresh  eggs  April  23d. 

*35.    Poocaetes  gramineus  confinis. 
WESTERN  VESPER  SPARROW. — Tolerably  common. 

"36.    Ammodramus  sandwichensis  alaudinus. 
WESTERN  SAVANNA  SPARROW. — Tolerably  common. 

"37-    Chondestes  grammacus  strigatus. 

WESTERN  LARK  SPARROW. — Common    among   clumps  of 
cactus.     Fresh  eggs  taken  April  20th. 

38.    Zonotrichia  gambeli. 
GAMBEL'S  SPARROW. — Common. 

39.  Spizella  socialis  arizonae. 

WESTERN  CHIPPING  SPARROW. — Heard  singing. 

40.  Amphispiza  belli. 

BELL'S  SPARROW. — Tolerably  common.  Keeps  among  thick 
brush. 

'41.    Pipilo  fuscus  crissalis. 

CALIFORNIAN  TOWHEE. — Tolerably  common.     Was  build- 
ing by  the  middle  of  April. 

42.  Habia  melanocephala. 

BLACK-HEADED  GROSBEAK. — A  single  male  was  seen. 

43.  Passerina  amoena. 
LAZULI  BUNTING. — Hare. 

44.  Petrochelidon  lunifrons. 
CLIFF  SWALLOW.— Common. 


430  CALIFORNIA    ACADEMY    OF    SCIENCES. 

45.    Tachycineta  thalassina. 

VIOLET-GREEN  SWALLOW. — About  ten  birds  were  seen  fly- 
ing in  a  northerly  direction  April  10th. 

*46.    Lanius  ludovicianus  excubitorides. 
WHITE-RUMPED  SHRIKE. — Common. 

47.  Vireo  gilvus. 

WARBLING  VIREO. — Was  seen  singing  in  the  oaks. 

48.  Dendroica  aestiva. 

YELLOW  WARBLER. — Eare.     One  male  seen. 

*49.    Dendroica  auduboni. 
AUDUBON'S  WARBLER. — A  few  seen  in  April. 

50.    Geothlypis  trichas  occideutalis. 
WESTERN  YELLOW  THROAT. — Eare. 

*51.    Mimus  polyglottus. 

MOCKINGBIRD. — Could  be  heard  singing  morning  and  even- 
ing, and  often  on  moonlight  nights. 

52.  Harporhynchus  redivivus. 

CALIFORIAN   THRASHER. — Quite  common  throughout  the 
low  hills. 

53.  Campylorhynchus  brunneicapillus. 

CACTUS  WREN. — Common.     A  nest  and  fresh  eggs  taken 
April  18th. 

54.  Salpinctes  obsoletus. 

EOCK  WREN. — Tolerably  common  in  suitable  localities. 

55.  Troglodytes  aedon  parkmanii. 
PARKMAN'S  WREN. — Common. 


ORNITHOLOGY    OF    SAN    DIEGO    COUNTY.  431 

'56.    Chamaea  fasciata. 
WREN-TIT. — Tolerably  common. 

57.  Psaltriparus  minimus  californicus. 

CALIFORNIA^  Buse-TiT. — Found  a  nest  with  young,  April 
23d. 

58.  Regulus  calendula. 

RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. — A  male  was  seen  April  27th. 

59.  Polioptila  caerulea. 

BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. — Bare.  Two  males  were  taken 
in  January. 

60.  Turdus  aonalaschkae. 

DWARF  HERMIT  THRUSH. — Tolerably  common  in  January. 
Fed  upon  the  berries  of  the  pepper  tree. 

'61.    Merula  migratoria  propinqua. 
WESTERN  KOBIN. — Was  seen  in  the  valley  April  28th. 

62.  Sialia  mexicana. 

WESTERN  BLUEBIRD. — Very  common  among  the  pepper 
trees  during  my  visit  in  January. 

63.  Sialia  arctica. 

MOUNTAIN  BLUEBIRD. — A  few  seen  about  a  plowed  field  in 
January.  I  was  told  that  it  was  the  first  time  that  they  had 
been  seen  in  the  valley. 


B000"870V70 


